I just ordered a 2022 skeeter zx200 and was told the batteries didn’t come with the boat? Imagine buying a new car for 60k and then being told that?

my question is has anyone else encountered this?

do I have to pay for batteries or is it included in the “rigging” price I paid?

 

my last boat purchase was 2001…. I imagine lots has changed in the boat business since but that boat came with three batteries…. I feel like it’s nickel and diming….

That is normal in today’s world as there are so many choices.

I bought a boat in 2015 and it came with 3 batteries.

 

Still have the original cranking battery but I am going to replace it before next spring.

A lot would depend on the dealer.  My 2020 came fully rigged with batteries installed by the dealer, not Skeeter.  I would not expect batteries to come from Skeeter.  When I worked for a dealer many years ago, we always installed batteries in our shop.

 

I would be PO'ed if a new boat didn't come with batteries.  That said, unless you specified, they will probably not be the best batteries you can buy.  Mine came with Interstates.  Never had good luck with them in the past.  This will be the third season.  I would not expect them to make it. 

 

If you have a purchase agreement or similar document, I'd suggest you read it. 

 

A little gentlemanly, professional, whining might get you a discount or a rebate so you get a better level of batteries either from the dealer, or others. 

 

BE NICE !!

Batteries are a dealer installed option. No sense in the factory throwing in wet cells when the buyer wants AGM's or Lithium.

Thank you guys I will definitely “professionally whine” about it . I bought my last boat from this dealer so I’ll see how it goes.

If the dealer is installing the TM, circuit breakers, onboard charger, 6 ga wire, they should be providing batteries with option to upgrade.

Tom

When I ordered my boat in 2005, I told them I didn't want any batteries, or trolling motor or charger or sonars.  I wouldn't expect a new boat to come with batteries now.

19 hours ago, WRB said:

If the dealer is installing the TM, circuit breakers, onboard charger, 6 ga wire, they should be providing batteries with option to upgrade.

Tom

Thank you that’s very helpful information 

I would hope with the size TM's available these days, they would have at least installed 4ga marine cable for the TM, and 2ga would be even better.    6ga is too small for the larger TM's we have today.  Yes, you can safely use 6ga but performance is going to suffer because of the increased voltage drop.

As for the batteries, there are way too many options, with a huge difference in cost for that not to be an optional item.

When I bought a boat in 2016 the dealer said they were putting "these" batteries in, if I wanted something different then I would pay the difference. I was fine with that, I would think a new boat should have batteries. 

My Phoenix came with 3 AGM batteries but that was from the dealership I bought it from!  They included it in the price.  That was just in November

Boat dealer thought bubble……….

 

”hell, he just dropped $68,000, I bet he’s got another grand to drop on batteries. “

The dealer should have informed you of this when you made the purchase.   I have bought at least a dozen or more bass boats in my life.  In the sixties, all you got was the hull.  Today there are so many options I can see how they don't fully rig them at the factory.  The salesman that sold this boat to you didn't do his/her job.  My bet is they don't fish or they would have known you didn't specify batteries. This salesman was probably selling auto maintenance contracts last month.

My dealer offered them with option to upgrade. the "base" package was in no way free though... They were absorbed into my loan one way or another

Yes, most will have already included a base package, that include batteries, and probably some type of onboard charger, but nothing close to the high end stuff available.  That stuff is optional, and if you want that, the price of the boat is adjusted accordingly.  That dealer may also just ask what you want up front before he figures the drive out price.  Either way, you are going to be paying for them, they are not a freebee from the manufacture.

I remember those days when you bought a new boat, it was just the boat, and you sat down with the dealer and went through the whole shopping list of what you wanted.  They did all the rigging.  Now day's the boat manufacture will install the motor, and a lot of the rigging and accessories because that gives them more stuff they can make a profit on.